OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1006, 26 September 1903, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

ALLEGED FRAUD.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night,

A ease arising out of a claim for an old age pension was heard to-day. Tho Deputy Registrar of Pensions prosecuted James Hogan for obtaining a pension by making a wilfully false statement, and also attempting to secure a renewal by means of a wilfully false statement. It was explained that accused in making the application for a pension signed a sworn statement that his wife had no property. Tho prosecution alleged, however, that Hogan’s wife owned a section with a capital value of £230, and a small farm valued at £lB6. He and his wife lived on their son's farm rent free, and it was estimated tho annual rental value was £SO. Mr Herbort W. Brabant, S.M., who heard tho claimant’s application for a pension, produced his notes, showing that Hogan told the Court that ho was kept by his daughter and son, and lived on the lattor’s property. Mr Alexander admitted on behalf of Hogan that the property existed, and was owned a 3 the prosecution allegod, but said tho mis-statement was not wilful. Hogan was an old man whose sight was failing, and the claim was filled in by his daughter. He did not know it was necossary to state that his wife owned any property, and at the hearing of the claim no questions were asked about it. His Worship dismissed both informations, stating that although Hogan had made a statutory declaration that his wife had no property, he retracted that when examined in tho witness box upon application for a renewal, and also told tho Court" about his wife’s property. Therefore it could not bo said that he signed the declaration with a fraudulent purpose, and tho ovidence was not sufficient to sustain a criminal prosecution.